CHAPTER LXIII. THE CAIROLIS AND THEIR SEVENTY COMPANIONS.
A people well-governed and contented do not rebel. Insurrections andrevolutions are the weapons of the oppressed and the slave. The incitingcauses of such are tyrannies. The apparent exceptions, originating fromdifferent circumstances, are, when closely examined, found to be theoffspring of moral or material despotisms.
England, Switzerland, and the United States have experienced, and maystill experience, insurrections, although these countries are by nomeans badly governed. Switzerland has had her Sonderbunds, and Englandher Fenians. These latter are chiefly kept in vigor by the Romishpriests, through the moral tyranny exercised by them over the mostignorant of the population in Ireland. The United States have witnessed,in these latter years, a terrible revolution, caused by the materialtyranny the rich colonists of the South exercised over their slaves,which they, moreover, desired to extend to the other States of theUnion.
Moral or material tyranny is always the cause of revolution. And in Romewho can deny that both moral and material tyranny is exercised? Yes, inRome exists the twofold revolting despotism of the priests who lay Italyat the feet of the stranger; who sell her for their profit! Theirs isthe most depraved of all forms of tyranny.
Picture a dreary, dark, windy, damp night in October. The rain hasceased to fall on the glistening and foaming surface of the Tiber. Thebanks of the river are muddy and furrowed, for every ditch has become atorrent, and scarcely a vestige of dry and solid ground is perceptible.In several boats behold seventy men, armed with poniards and revolvers,and a few miscellaneous muskets. Their habiliments were far too thinfor that cold rainy night. But the Seventy were warmed by the heat ofheroism. Rome on this night was to rise in rebellion.
Many of the bravest youths from every Italian province had contrivedto enter the city, and our old friends Attilio, Muzio, and Orazio, withtheir companions, were at their posts, ready to head the Roman rising.In vain did the priesthood endeavor to discover the conspirators,arresting right and left all upon whom the slightest suspicion fell:their efforts were vain, for Rome swarmed with brave men, ready tosacrifice themselves in order to secure her liberation.
The Seventy, impelled by the current of the Tiber, were rapidlyadvancing to the assistance of their brothers. Under cover of Mount St.Giuliano, those valorous youths landed, at the hoar of midnight, on the22d of October, 1867.
Enrico Cairoli led his heroic companions. "We will rest," he said, "ourlimbs in this Casino della Gloria, until we receive intelligence fromour allies in the city, so that our attack may be made on the enemysimultaneously. Meanwhile," went on their leader, "I feel it my duty toremind you that this enterprise is a dangerous one, and therefore themore worthy of you. If, however, any of you are overdone, or feel atall indisposed to the great task, and do not care to follow us, let themreturn. We shall not think it a crime in him to do so; and all we say tothem is, 'Farewell, till we meet in Rome!'"
"In life and in death we will follow you," answered, as in one voice,those intrepid youths, not one of whom turned back.
"The guide who was to conduct us to Rome is not to be found, and no onehas yet returned to give us any news," said Giovanni Cairoli, who hadjust come back from an exploration, to his brother.
Dawn began to appear, and they were now in the wolfs mouth--that is,near the advanced posts of the Papal troops, and in danger of beingattacked at any moment.
"What does it signify?" said Enrico Cairoli, in reply to his brother'sremark. "We came here to fight, and we will not return without havingaccomplished that duty."
At mid-day a messenger arrived from Rome, and announced, "The movementon the previous evening had remained an imperfect one, and theconspirators were waiting for orders to direct them how to act."
The messenger was sent back to urge immediate internal agitation, and toassure them of the readiness of the Seventy to co-operate.
No answer was returned. At five o'clock in the afternoon, the Seventybeing discovered, were attacked by two companies of the Papal troops.The valorous Giovanni Cairoli, who, at the head of twenty-four men,formed the vanguard, posted in a rustic house in the village, wasattacked first; and, notwithstanding the inferiority of his numbers,withstood the assault of the enemy. His equally valiant brother Enrico,the commander, seeing him in danger, overcome by force of numbers,charged to the rescue, and drove back the mercenaries, who fled at thesight of these brave and devoted boys.
Being reinforced by other companies, the mercenaries entrenchedthemselves behind the heights of Mount St. Giuliano, from whence theykept up a fearfully destructive fire with their superior arms. TheCairolis, with their intrepid companions, crippled by the inferiority oftheir fire-arms, many of which would not go off, resolved to chargethem at the point of the bayonet, and made one of those assaults that sooften decide battles. The mercenaries, completely daunted, left upon thefield their wounded and dead. The young soldiers of Liberty lost theirheroic chief and friend, and many of them were seriously 'wounded. Nightcame, and put an end to that unequal but gallant strife.